Subscriber Exclusive
Strategies for Blue-Ribbon Knitting at the State Fair
Advice from a prize-winning knitter to make your creations shine!
People often ask me why I enter my knitting into a competition at a state fair. Entering projects into the fair means that my knitting will be inspected very closely and critiqued. Knowing that people are going to scrutinize my work both inside and out has really pushed me to improve. I also think that the fair is more enjoyable when you are personally involved and have something to search for. And to be honest, I like winning ribbons. There is no greater feeling than winning the sweepstakes (the highest-level prizes)!
For more about entering your knitting projects into a state fair, see Susan Rainey’s article “Best in Show—Competition Knitting at the State Fair”
Round Doily with Cables, designed by Herbert Niebling, knitted by Susan Rainey was a prize winner at the Minnesota State Fair Photos courtesy of the author unless otherwise noted
What do judges look for?
The judges look at both the quality of the knitting and the condition of the article. They check to see if the item is clean, dirty, or pilled. They want to see even stitches. They look at aesthetics, such as whether the yarn detracts from the stitch pattern. They look at finishing details, seaming, blocking, buttonholes, and buttons. And they make sure that the ends are woven in. Once I was marked down for not doing the final trim on a yarn tail.
One thing they don’t look at is how closely you followed the pattern. They don’t have the pattern in front of them, and that isn’t what they are judging. Following the pattern blindly may not yield the best results.
It is a good idea to be mindful about the techniques you choose—you want to excel. Continue to learn different methods of things like cast-ons and bind-offs, increases and decreases, stitches, finishing, and other refinements so you have more tools in your knitting toolbox when you are working on your entry project.
Tips and Suggestions
- Work on the quality of your knitting: strive for even gauge (and no rowing-out on purl rows), smooth tension (with no ladders at needle changes), and stranded colorwork that does not pucker.
People often ask me why I enter my knitting into a competition at a state fair. Entering projects into the fair means that my knitting will be inspected very closely and critiqued. Knowing that people are going to scrutinize my work both inside and out has really pushed me to improve. I also think that the fair is more enjoyable when you are personally involved and have something to search for. And to be honest, I like winning ribbons. There is no greater feeling than winning the sweepstakes (the highest-level prizes)!
For more about entering your knitting projects into a state fair, see Susan Rainey’s article “Best in Show—Competition Knitting at the State Fair”
Round Doily with Cables, designed by Herbert Niebling, knitted by Susan Rainey was a prize winner at the Minnesota State Fair Photos courtesy of the author unless otherwise noted
What do judges look for?
The judges look at both the quality of the knitting and the condition of the article. They check to see if the item is clean, dirty, or pilled. They want to see even stitches. They look at aesthetics, such as whether the yarn detracts from the stitch pattern. They look at finishing details, seaming, blocking, buttonholes, and buttons. And they make sure that the ends are woven in. Once I was marked down for not doing the final trim on a yarn tail.
One thing they don’t look at is how closely you followed the pattern. They don’t have the pattern in front of them, and that isn’t what they are judging. Following the pattern blindly may not yield the best results.
It is a good idea to be mindful about the techniques you choose—you want to excel. Continue to learn different methods of things like cast-ons and bind-offs, increases and decreases, stitches, finishing, and other refinements so you have more tools in your knitting toolbox when you are working on your entry project.
Tips and Suggestions
- Work on the quality of your knitting: strive for even gauge (and no rowing-out on purl rows), smooth tension (with no ladders at needle changes), and stranded colorwork that does not pucker.
[PAYWALL]
- Focus on even the smallest details: weave in ends, close holes at the base of a thumb, graft sock toes smoothly, and use buttons with a shank or make a thread shank so the garment closes neatly.
- Push your knitting to a higher level of difficulty: difficulty counts.
- Strive for perfection; don’t settle for “good enough.”
- Knit what you’re good at and what you love—put your heart and soul into it.
If your goal is to win ribbons, think about entering your pieces in places beyond the standard knitting categories. I’ve entered several articles in the “Toys” category. My “Mr. Darcy” knitted figure was a red ribbon winner. For those 65 years or older, there is a separate senior section with several knitting lots. I even won a ribbon once in Horticulture/Bee & Honey for my Queen Bee-nie knitted hat.
Queen Bee-nie Hat, designed and knitted by Susan Rainey.
Is there a downside?
The downside of trying to earn a prize at the fair is that you can work really hard on something and then not receive the recognition you were hoping for. Some years are disappointing. Every entry doesn’t win a ribbon. But even when you disagree with the judges’ decision, it is an opportunity to evaluate your work from a different perspective.
Time and effort don’t always equal success. You can’t control what other people enter or the judges’ preferences. But I’ve also won blue ribbons for articles I threw in at the last minute. Luck can be a huge factor.
There are other risks. Occasionally, an item can become damaged or lost. This has not happened to me personally, but it is possible. If your fair does not enclose its entries in secure cases, theft or damage could result.
Despite the potential drawbacks, it is great fun to participate in state fair knitting competitions. Check out your state and county fair for more information. Most of all, just go for it. It’s motivating to enter your handiwork, and it may be just the catalyst you need to take your knitting to the next level.
Susan Rainey is a passionate and enthusiastic knitter and has been for about 60 years. She has been entering her knitting in the Minnesota State Fair for close to 40 years and has won 16 sweepstakes awards and countless ribbons. Susan is lv2knit on Ravelry and @lv2knitmn on Instagram. She shares a knitting blog with her equally obsessed sister Sally at theraineysisters.com.
